Facts, figures & quotes

Symphony Hall Facts & Figures

Symphony Hall opened on 15th April 1991 to great acclaim with a performance of Mahler’s 2nd Symphony performed by the CBSO and Sir Simon Rattle. The hall was at full capacity and it was also relayed live to a big screen in Centenary Square.

Since it’s official opening in 1991, Symphony Hall has welcomed around 10 million audience members to over 7500 events.

There is a railway line that runs directly below Symphony Hall, and the rest of the ICC site. Symphony Hall is founded on 120 concrete pillars interspersed with 800 rubber cushions to reduce the vibrations from this.

Acoustic tests run before the hall’s opening proved that if a pin is dropped on stage it can be heard from any seat in the house.

Town Hall originally opened in 1834 and was designed by Joseph Hansom – who later went on to design the Hansom cab. The building is modelled on the Roman Temple of Castor and Pollux.

The stone with which the Town Hall was built is popularly known as Anglesey Marble and is actually a white carboniferous limestone. It was originally quarried in north Wales, with the stone shipped 80 miles by sea and 100 miles by canal to Birmingham.

Despite it’s name, Town Hall has never been the seat of local government, although since it’s opening many of the countries foremost politicians have spoken in the hall, including William Gladstone, David Lloyd George, Clement Atlee and Margaret Thatcher.

In 1996, Town Hall was put on English Heritage’s register of buildings at risk, and would remain closed for over 10 years. Following extensive refurbishment, the hall was reopened on 4th October 2007.